Object First has released its analysis of the main trends in data security and sovereignty for 2026, emphasizing that protecting and maintaining control of information will become a strategic, economic, and geopolitical element of great importance.
From Compliance to Power: Data as a Strategic Asset
The growth of cloud computing and the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence are transforming how the value of data is perceived. The central question is no longer about how information is processed, but who has control over its access.
According to Object First, “data sovereignty” will cease to be merely a technical or legal compliance requirement to become a strategic tool for both companies and states. Amid rising global tensions and historic reliance on foreign infrastructure, many European organizations will opt for cloud and storage solutions labeled as “trusted cloud” or “sovereign data.”
The recent Digital Sovereignty Summit, held in Berlin in November 2025 and attended by over 900 leaders from institutional, industrial, and academic sectors, highlighted the need to build a more resilient and less dependent European cloud and data ecosystem, reducing reliance on providers outside Europe.
Sovereign Generative AI: The New Frontier of Corporate Privacy
Following the initial explosion of large models, 2026 will mark the transition toward trustworthy generative AI, hosted on local environments or certified European infrastructures.
“We’re seeing a clear move away from open, uncontrolled architectures,” explains Daniel Fried, senior VP EMEA at Object First. “Organizations want AI models that are traceable, ethical, compliant with European regulations, and above all, secure against leaks or alterations of sensitive data.”
Projects involving sovereign AI, both national and pan-European, will multiply, driven by trusted cloud providers and regulators. The focus shifts toward traceable, ethical, and regulated AI that aligns with Europe’s digital sovereignty strategy.
New Regulations: Key to Digital Resilience
Regulations such as DORA, NIS2, Data Act, and Cyber Resilience Act will framework how data is managed, protected, and audited across Europe.
“Europe is shifting from being a slow continent to becoming a continent of reasoned security,” Fried highlights. “These regulations do not hinder innovation; they organize and make it reliable.”
Companies will invest in data mapping, advanced traceability, immutable backups, and transparent data flows to demonstrate end-to-end control. The goal is to anticipate threats, ensure complete control over their environments, and reduce exposure to cyberattacks and reliance on external providers.
Sovereign Multi-Cloud Becomes Standard
The notion of a “universal cloud” is receding. By 2026, many organizations—particularly in regulated sectors like finance, healthcare, or the public sector—will adopt sovereign hybrid multi-cloud architectures, combining international public clouds, European providers, and internal data centers to balance innovation, agility, and control of critical data.
In this way, cloud computing ceases to be an end in itself and becomes a segmented, regulated ecosystem where data sovereignty is a fundamental premise.
For Object First, 2026 will mark a turning point in how Europe—and European organizations—manage, protect, and value their data. Data sovereignty is no longer optional; it is a strategic requirement. Companies, governments, and institutions that promptly pursue digital transformation based on these principles will be better positioned in a world where “those who control the data control the power.”